Parentator. Memoirs of remarkables in the life and the death of the ever-memorable Dr.…

But since we are upon Temptations, here will be Perhaps as fit a place as any, to Introduce more of those things whereof Luther would say, They made up, with Meditation and Supplication, the Three Things which a Finished Divine must find his most Instructive and Effectual Tutors. The Temptations which we have spoken of, were no sooner gone off, but another sort were brought on, to keep the Servant of GOD in ⟨p. 30⟩a Continual Warfare, and Enduring what a good Soldier of JESUS CHRIST must be called unto The Churches of New-England are not the only Reformed Churches, that have been Chargeable with the Crime of Ingratitude unto their Minin•st••s The French Synods complained of it, as a Sin too R•se among them; Yea, they Declared, that the Ingratitude of People refusing to Contribute unto the Subsistence of their Ministers, threatened the Churches with a Total Dissipation; which, alas, is now come upon them. No sooner was Mr. Mather got under the Engagements of a Settlement with his People, which they esteemed Sacred and Unreleasable and Indissoluble, but Presently they that had the Ordering of those things grew very slack in Answering their Engagements to support him with a Tolerable Maintenance. The Deacons of the Church were not Spirited like some that have Succeeded them; and the Leaders of the more Honest People also, were Men of a low, mean, sordid Spirit: By which means he was Reduced unto Wants and Straits, and such hard Circumstances as ought by no means to be Related, and if they were could scarce be Credited. For one of his Education, and Erudition, and Gentlemanly Spirit, and Conversation, to be so Crippled, and kept in such a Depressing Poverty!—But, O thou Angel of the Church, We know who said, I know thy Poverty, but thou art Rich!—In these Distresses, it was to little purpose for him to make his Complaint unto Man! If he had, it would have been basely Improved unto his ⟨p. 31⟩Disadvantage. He Writes upon it; I had no other way, but to go unto the Lord JESUS; and make my Moan before Him, who I knew was willing that I should be Supported in His Service. By these Temptations there was a strong Trial made, of his Patience, and of his Prudence, and of the Principles which Acted him in his Ministry; but being tried he came forth as Gold. He had offers of a Settlement, where he might have mended his Condition in the World;